Friday Night Tasting!

Friday Night Tasting!

It’s Friday!  Let’s taste some wines from Europe tonight!

Tasting 3-15-13

Clos Le Vigneau Vouvray from France ($23.99) – “The 2011 Clos Le Vigneau, from a more challenging vintage, is just as good. Aromatics of spring flowers, poached pears, honeyed melon and some buttered citrus jump from the glass of this medium-bodied, very pure, fresh and nicely concentrated wine, which is the epitome of a dry Chenin Blanc meant to go with a cornucopia of cuisines.” – Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91 pts.

Monfil Garnacha from Spain ($14.99) – Red cherry color with violet tones. Very intense on the nose with cola, red berry and mineral notes also a slight appearance of white pepper.” 88 Pts. Best Buy Wine Enthusiast.

“Vigne Vicchie” Barbera D’Asti Superiore from Italy ($36.99) – Vinchio-Vaglio Serra, a “Cantina Sociale,” has access to Barbera vines dating back to the period prior to the Second World War. These vineyards have a special planting system, with very close plants and  extraordinary sun exposure. Grapes coming from “Vigne Vecchie” are the richest in sugar-content and they keep a high quality standard even in bad vintages.  Grapes are chosen on the basis of their ripening. They are harvested and kept in boxes of 20 kilos each. These selected grapes are pressed under the supervision of our firm’s managers. Our vine-growers must empty the boxes one at a time in a small wine-press. The fermentation is done through vertical vinification-machines at controlled temperature. The drawing process starts after 10 days of fermentation. The wine is then transferred in small oak barrels (225 liters/each) for a period of time that changes according to the vintage and the wine’s characteristics. Its evolution is carefully supervised through monthly checks, until it is judged ready for bottling. It is a bright wine, ruby-red colored with light-orange overtones. Its bouquet is strong, ethereal, spicy and slightly “boisé” (woody flavor). It is a full-bodied wine, soft and long-lasting, with light and sweet tannins.

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